What Is a Window Spacer? When homeowners shop for windows, they focus on: Double vs. triple glazing Low-E Argon Frame colour Almost nobody asks: What’s holding the panes apart? That component is called the spacer. Natural Resources Canada explains that insulating glass units use spacer bars to separate the panes and create sealed cavities.
WHAT IS A WINDOW SPACER, AND WHY DOES THE EDGE OF THE GLASS MATTER? Read More »
Steel vs. Fiberglass Entry Doors: Which Should You Choose? You’re replacing the front door. Now you’re deciding between: Steel and fiberglass. Both can provide excellent exterior-door performance. Natural Resources Canada notes that modern exterior doors may use insulated cores covered with metal or fiberglass shells, and that insulated-core doors can provide greater thermal resistance than
STEEL VS. FIBERGLASS ENTRY DOORS: WHICH SHOULD YOU CHOOSE? Read More »
Vented vs. Solid Soffit: Which Does Your Home Need? Look underneath your roof overhang. Some soffit panels have small perforations. Others look completely solid. Is one wrong? No. Envirotech’s current Gentek aluminum soffit line is available in both vented and plain panel configurations. The difference is functional. Vented soffit can provide attic intake airflow. Solid
VENTED VS. SOLID SOFFIT: DOES EVERY SOFFIT PANEL NEED VENTS? Read More »
Why Air Sealing Should Come Before Adding More Attic Insulation Your attic insulation looks low. The obvious answer seems simple: Add more. But there is another question to ask first: Where is indoor air escaping? Natural Resources Canada specifically recommends sealing obvious attic air-leakage paths before adding or upgrading attic insulation. Because insulation and air
WHY AIR SEALING SHOULD COME BEFORE ADDING MORE ATTIC INSULATION Read More »
What Does Argon Gas Actually Do Inside a Window? You cannot see it. You cannot smell it. But when you’re comparing replacement windows, you will probably see: ARGON GAS somewhere in the specifications. So what are you actually paying for? Argon is an inert gas placed inside the sealed space between panes of an insulated
WHAT DOES ARGON GAS ACTUALLY DO INSIDE A WINDOW? Read More »
Exterior renovation decisions can quickly turn into: Grey siding. Black gutters. White soffit. Maybe black windows. Wait—what colour should the fascia be? Every choice may look good individually. That doesn’t mean they’ll work together. When Envirotech approaches a full exterior, the goal should be a cohesive house, not a collection of popular colours. Gentek specifically
How to Coordinate Siding, Soffit, Fascia and Gutter Colours Read More »
Some of the most important parts of your home’s exterior are also the smallest. Kickout flashing is a good example. It is a small piece of flashing installed near the bottom of certain roof-to-wall intersections. Its job is to redirect water away from the wall and toward the gutter or drainage path. The Vinyl Siding
What Is Kickout Flashing? Read More »
Your siding is being replaced. Do you need new soffit and fascia too? Not automatically. These components have different jobs and may age at different rates. Your siding protects and finishes the walls. Your soffit finishes the underside of the roof overhang and can help provide attic ventilation. Your fascia runs along the roofline behind
Should You Replace Soffit and Fascia When You Replace Siding? Read More »
You want new siding. Your windows are only five years old. Do they really need to come out too? Usually: No. Siding replacement and window replacement are separate projects. If your existing windows are: Structurally sound Performing properly Correctly installed Free from significant water problems they may remain in place while the siding around them
Can You Replace Siding Without Replacing Your Windows? Read More »
When homeowners compare replacement windows, the conversation often sounds like this: “This one has Low-E.” “This one is triple glazed.” “This one is more energy efficient.” But how do you actually compare them? In Canada, window performance can be evaluated using several standardized metrics. Three of the most important are: U-factor Energy Rating (ER) Solar
U-Factor, ER and SHGC: How to Read a Window Energy Rating Read More »